Heavy rain and gales set to hit North Island

Photo / Paul Taylor

Heavy rain and gales this weekend will make parts of the country feel more like a winter wonderland than the start of summer, forecasters say.

On the second to last weekend before Christmas, some shoppers will need to don rain coats as they grab last minute presents.

A low sitting to the north east of the North Island was due to bring heavy rain top end of the country, MetService meteorologist Hannah Moes said.

"We have a heavy rain warning for Northland, northern Auckland north of Whangaparaoa, including Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula."

The warning was due to stay in place from tonight until tomorrow evening, she said.

A severe weather watch for severe easterly gales was in force for Northland, Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula and eastern parts of Waikato for much of tomorrow, Ms Moes said.

"For the rest of the North Island...we are expecting rain to push down to the central parts of the North Island - so the rest of Waikato, the Bay of Plenty and down to Waitomo and Hawkes Bay during tomorrow morning."

That rain would ease by the evening.

The rest of the country should see rain and cloud ease today and sunshine for tomorrow, Ms Moes said.

Weekend forecast:

* Whangarei

Today: Rain, with some heavy falls tonight. Easterly winds developing. High 18C, low 15C.

Tomorrow: Rain, with some heavy falls tonight. Easterly winds developing. High 20C, low 16C.

* Auckland

Today: Cloud thickens. Rain and easterly develop afternoon. High 20C, low 14C.

Tomorrow: Rain, heavy falls, eases afternoon. Easterly gusts 80 km/h. High 18C, low 14C.

* Hamilton

Today: High cloud. Late rain. Easterly develops this evening. High 22C, low 13C.

Tomorrow: Rain clears evening, then fine spells. Gusty easterly. High 17C, low 11C.

* Tauranga

Today: Cloud thickening, late showers. Light winds. High 21C, low 14C.

Tomorrow: Rain develops morning, clears at night. Gusty easterly. High 18C, low 13C.

* Wellington

Today: Showers clear afternoon, then fine spells. Fresh Southerly. High 15C, low 9C.

Tomorrow: Fine. Southeast dying away during the evening. High 17C, low 10C.

* Christchurch

Today: Cloudy, but afternoon fine spells. Southerlies. High 14C, low 5C.

Tomorrow: Morning cloud then fine. Northeasterlies developing. High 16C, low 7C.

* Dunedin

Today: Mainly fine. Southwesterlies. High 13C, low 7C.

Tomorrow: Morning cloud then fine. Northeasterlies developing. High 15C, low 9C.